Healthcare & America

Healthcare is such an important topic in todays society. I actually never knew that a majority of college students do not have healthcare. A lot of people have Medicaid, however Medicaid IS NOT healthcare. There are many myths and truths about healthcare that people do not know. A majority of working Americans will continue to receive their healthcare through their employer says www.aarp.org. Here are some pointers about healthcare. Healthcare reform isn’t about a government takeover. Its about guaranteeing all Americans a choice of Healthcare plans they can afford. Healthcare reform will help ensure doctors are paid fairly so that they will continue to treat Medicare patients. None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services. For more information see www.aarp.com

Healthcare Forum @ VSU

On Thursday Oct. 22 the NOW! group held a forum in the basement of Byrd Residence Hall. The purpose of the forum was to bring awareness of Healthcare Reform to students of Virginia State University. VOP representative, Cathy Woodson, and SGA President, Cassandra Campbell, spoke to interested VSU students who wanted to gain more insight about the needed attention that this Healthcare reform needs. During the course of the forum, group members from NOW! conducted surveys as well as having the students participate in the phone banking.

VOP Racial Profiling Campaign Update

Racial profiling and other biased policing practices are issues of concern to people of color around the Commonwealth. African-American, Latino, South Asian and other groups are concerned about this issue every time they drive a car, and even more so when their children begin to drive. Racial profiling is the result of patterns, often unconscious, that are in the minds of law enforcement officers before they even begin their careers, and that current training is not enough to get rid of. To learn more about racial profiling click the link below: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/campaign/racial_profiling_update.php

Over 500 Groups Demand End To Local Immigration Checks

Since taking office, the Obama Administration has been doing a carefully choreographed dance with both sides of the immigration debate in an attempt to place itself in a "sweet spot" where it believes it will be able to appease all concerned parties when the thorny issue of immigration reform finally moves up the legislative agenda. http://migramatters.blogspot.com/2009/09/over-500-groups-demand-end-to-local.html

Rural Virginians talk health care to Congress

Rural Virginians cleared the air about their position on health-care reform at the “Rural Issues in Health Care Reform” congressional briefing hosted this week by Reps. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wis.) also spoke at the briefing. http://augustafreepress.com/2009/10/02/rural-virginians-talk-health-care-to-congress/

Virginia Lags in Restoration of Felons' Civic Rights

Convicted felons in Virginia who want their rights back must petition the governor in what can be a lengthy process. Once they are out of prison and off probation, there's a waiting period of three years for nonviolent offenders and five years for violent offenders and drug dealers.
Although the governor has the power to restore most civil rights, felons still are prohibited from owning a gun. Once someone has his other rights restored by the governor, he can ask a circuit court judge for permission to have a gun. Restoring the rights of felons is left to the sole discretion of the governor, and the number of such actions has varied widely from administration to administration. Click link below to learn more about this story: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/218048

2009 Virginia Votes

The 2009 VirginiaVoting information gives Virginians all the needed information for
deadlines, election information,voters’ rights and responsibilities, regaining voting rights after a felony conviction and your local voter registration offices. In addition, the guide is filled with issues that affect you and fellow Virginians. We’re all in this together so check out more about Virginia Votes 2009 handbook! http://www.virginia-organizing.org/voterg.pdf

VOP in Southwest VA

Knocking on thousands of doors in one summer can really help change some power dynamics in the state of Virginia. Southwest Virginia VOP members are already seeing this new dynamic in action as they meet, and schedule meetings with, local elected officials this fall. Legislators have been much quicker to return calls to schedule the meetings and have been very interested in what thousands of people VOP talked to in their districts are saying are the major community issues. VOP members and allies have already had meetings with Senator Phillip Puckett in Russell County and Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark in Wytheville to talk about the summer project, local issues, and our statewide campaigns on health care and car title lending. For more information about VOP’s organizing in Southwest Virginia contact Brian Johns at bjohns@virginia-organizing.org or (276) 619-1920 http://www.virginia-organizing.org/magazine/fall08_southern.php

Payday Lending Fact Sheet

The payday lender must give you at least two pay periods to repay your loan.If you are paid weekly or more often, the payday lender must give you at least 14 days to repay your loan. If you are paid every two weeks, your minimum loan term is 28 days. If you are paid twice a month, your minimum loan term is 31 days. If you are paid monthly or use your monthly benefit payments to get your loan, your minimum loan term is 62 days.A payday lender cannot make a loan to you if you already have an unpaid loan from any payday lender. For more information on your rights when borrowing money visithttp://www.virginia-organizing.org/magazine/fall08_what.php

Lobbying and Politics

The lobbyist enters the dark, smoke-filled room with pockets full of cash. The fat politician waits with a greedy grin, ready to vote for a sweet deal for the power behind the lobbyist. We’ve all seen this in the cartoons in the newspaper. Sometimes that picture is not so far from the truth. But lobbying is not quite that simple. We all know our political system directly affects our economic system. But how does lobbying fit in? The answer depends on your understanding of economics. There are many functions of lobbying such as free market and conflict theory. For more information on lobbying and our poliitical system click link below:http://www.virginia-organizing.org/articles/lobbying.php

Health Care Reform Awareness at VSU

The Virginia Organizing Project along with Virginia State University Mass Communication students will host a health care reform awareness campaign on the VSU campus during the month of October. The health care reform campaign will begin with a health care forum on October 22, 2009 in the basement of Byrd Hall at eight p.m.
The purpose of this health care reform campaign is to create awareness among Virginia State University students, faculty and staff about health care reform. The week will conclude with a health care reform walk, phone banking and conducting surveys around the VSU campus testing students’ knowledge on health care.

Just The Facts!!!

The Virginia Organizing Project, VOP, is a statewide multi-issue citizens' organization committed to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives.

What type of issues does the Virginia Organizing Project campaign for?

The Virginia Organizing Project campaigns on issues of child care, economic security, education, environment, health care, immigrants and worker rights, leadership development, youth, racism, sexual orientation discrimination and voter registration and mobilization.

How long has the Virginia Organizing Project been an existence?

Since 1995, VOP has intentionally involved people who have never participated in working for change alongside those with many years of experience. VOP is intentionally diverse in its leadership development, and attempts to cultivate democratic skills amongst people who, regardless of differences in race, gender, class, sexual orientation, age, occupation, religion, geographic location or ability, believe in the importance of working through local, grassroots communities to ensure a better quality of life for all Virginia's residents.

What is the Virginia Organizing Projects’ motto?

“Real People, Dealing with Real Problems, Working for Real Solutions”

What other type of projects does the Virginia Organizing Project conduct?

The Virginia Organizing Project has entered into a Joint Plan of Work with a wide variety of organizations in the following areas: Environment, Human Rights, Transportation and Community Support.

How does one learn more about the Virginia Organizing Project?
The Virginia Organizing Project website is www.virginia-organizing.org. The Virginia Organizing Project also has a blog site at www.virginiaorganizing.blogspot.com.